We reached the Monterey road just at daylight.  My intention had been to visit Monterey; but the Salinas being unfordable, and there being no ferry, it was not possible to do it without swimming the river, which I did not feel inclined to do.  Monterey is situated on the bay by that name, about 90 miles by water south of San Francisco.  The bay affords a good anchorage and landing in calm weather, being exposed only to the northers, which blow violently.  The town contains about 1500 inhabitants, and is rapidly increasing in wealth and population.  Arriving at the rancho of Don Joaquin Gomez, we found no one but a mestiza servant at home, and could obtain nothing to eat but a quesadilla.  All the streams, large and small, are much swollen by late heavy rains, and the travelling is consequently very laborious and difficult.  Resting our horses a short time, we crossed the mountains, and reached the mission of San Juan Bautista about noon.

At San Juan we met with Messrs. Grayson, Boggs, and a party of volunteers returning from Monterey to San Francisco, having been discharged since the suppression of the rebellion in this part of California, headed by Francisco Sanchez.  Here we learned, for the first time, the arrival at Monterey of Commodore Shubrick in the ship Independence, and of the Lexington with Captain Tomkins’s company of artillery, and freighted otherwise with munitions, stores, and tools necessary to the erection and defence of durable fortifications at Monterey and San Francisco.

Seven or eight miles beyond San Juan, we found that the waters of the arroyo had risen so as to inundate a wide valley which we were compelled to cross.  After making several ineffectual attempts to reach the opposite side, wading through the water, and sometimes falling into deep holes from which it was difficult for either men or horses to extricate themselves, we encamped for the night on a small elevation in the valley, entirely surrounded by water.  Our condition was miserable enough.  Tired, wet, and hungry, we laid down for the night on the damp ground.

The next day (Feb. 10), about eleven o’clock, we succeeded in finding a ford across the valley and stream, and procured dinner at a soap-factory on the opposite side, belonging to T.O.  Larkin, Esq.  Continuing on, we encamped at a rancho occupied by an Englishman as mayor domo.  He was very glad to see us, and treated us with unbounded hospitality, furnishing a superabundance of beef and frijoles for our consumption.  On the 11th, about three P.M., we arrived at the Pueblo de San Jose, and, finding there a launch employed by Messrs. Howard and Mellus in collecting hides, bound for San Francisco, we embarked in her, and on the morning of the 13th arrived at that place.  We found lying here the U.S. sloop Warren, and Lieutenant Radford politely furnished us with a boat to land.  In the afternoon the Cyane, Commander Dupont, with Gen. Kearny on board, and the store-ship Erie, with Col.  Mason on board, arrived in the harbour.  Col.  Mason is from the United States direct, via Panama, and brings late and interesting intelligence.